Accrington Stanley have had a hoodoo over Morecambe over the last six years – and John Coleman hopes it continues on Boxing Day.

You have to go back to September 2005 for a Shrimps league victory over the Reds and since then there have been nine league games with Stanley winning seven and drawing two.

"We’ve done well against them over the years but it will count for nothing on Monday," said Coleman, with the Shrimps just two points ahead of 13th placed Accrington.

Morecambe have been notoriously slow starters in the league in recent years but, under new boss Jim Bentley, charged to the top of the table early on this season.

However they have had mixed results recently and Coleman said: "I have a lot of time for Jim and know him well. He is level-headed and I always thought he would be a good manager – and so it’s proved.

"They haven’t had a win for a few games now but things can change quickly in football.

"One thing about Morecambe is that they always finish the season strongly and that will bode well for them.

"And they have some good players. Kevin Ellison is their top scorer while Danny Carlton has done well for them since he has come back to the club. He has scored a few goals as well which always helps.

"I just wish it was at home but the atmosphere at the Globe will be good.

"Personally, I always love Morecambe games. They’re generally exciting and I usually get a good reception from the fans that can remember me playing for them."

Coleman (right) admits he is happy with this side’s current shows as they made it six league games unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Torquay on Saturday and closed to within six points of the play-off places.

"We are playing well at the moment. We have hit some league form but there is still a long way to go.

"What has impressed me is the last four or five weeks, we have worked hard and players have taken responsibility for each other in training and in games.

"They have gelled more and got to know each other and how each other plays.

"We played well against Torquay and anyone who you beat in this league is a scalp. You can never underestimate the importance of getting three points.

"And the more you can win back-to-back, the quicker you move up the league so we have got to keep going and give it our best shot."

The boost for Coleman is that last season, after 21 games, they were 19th with 25 points and still finished the season in fifth spot.

This season, after 21 matches, they are 13th with 29 points.

"We are on a run at the moment and the more successful you are the more confidence it brings so we want to continue this run as long as we can," said Coleman, whose side’s victory over Morecambe last New Year’s Day sparked a revival in the second half of the season which led to the Reds’ first play-off appearance.

The only disappointment from Saturday’s victory is that influential midfielder Luke Joyce was sent off for what was deemed violent conduct as he tried to shrug off the attentions of Mark Ellis – only the second dismissal of his career.

The club were hoping to appeal the three-match ban after successfully overturning a red card dished out to Andy¿Procter earlier this season but Coleman admitted: "The video doesn’t show the incident, you cannot see anything so it’s not worth it.

"It is really annoying as players have put in horrendous challenges on our players this season and not been punished at all yet Luke hardly does anything and gets a three-match ban.

"I have seen he has done nothing but none of the four officials have seen it. It is really frustrating.

"And it’s three important games we will miss him for. He has done well for us and he will be a loss."